Test or not, close contacts must still isolate - Health DG

 

COVID-19 | The Heath Ministry today addressed concerns that the decision not to test all close contacts of Covid-19 patients could cause the virus to be unknowingly spread.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said regardless of whether a person is tested for the virus or not, they must still self-isolate if they have been exposed to a Covid-19 patient.

"For information, close contacts of positive cases must undergo quarantine or isolation, the same as before," he said in a statement today.

Previously, the Health Ministry issued a circular on new procedures where close contacts who don't show symptoms won't be tested.

As for Covid-19 clusters, only a percentage of the group will be tested.

Noor Hisham said this is because there is not enough capacity to test everyone due to the high load of cases.

"Priority for Covid-19 swab tests should be given to those with symptoms.

"This is due to the possibility of insufficient Covid-19 swab tests for all close contacts, particularly in certain districts where the caseload is very high.

"There must be an emphasis for all individuals who have been exposed to a Covid-19 patient to isolate so that they don't infect others," he said.

He added that the quarantine period is for 10 days.

During this time, he said the person under self-isolation at home should confine themselves to a room, preferably with an attached toilet.

If the toilet needs to be shared, then it should be regularly sanitised.

He said the person under isolation should not come in contact with other members of the household and update their health status on the MySejahtera app.

On a separate matter, Noor Hisham said the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has identified 1,138 beds in 97 private hospitals, including 70 intensive care unit beds, for Covid-19 patients.

This is part of the government's efforts to co-op private hospitals into the Covid-19 fight.

The mechanism of the partnership is still being worked on between APHM, the Finance Ministry and Bank Negara Malaysia, he added.  - Mkini